Pelosi trying to block Steny Hoyer?

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is trying to delay her caucus's leadership election, officials say.

The move may be an effort to keep Steny Hoyer, D-Md., now the minority whip, from succeeding her, Roll Call reported.

"Hoyer's office is really paranoid about it," an aide to another Democrat in Congress told Roll Call.

Pelosi became the first woman to serve as speaker of the House after the Democratic victory in 2006. She became minority leader when the Republicans swept back into the majority four years later.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, said she is concentrating on the Nov. 6 election and not on jockeying with Hoyer or anyone else.